New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom continues 'to take care of business,' wins in Citi Field return

NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom struck out 12 and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning of his second start all season, pitching the New York Mets past the Atlanta Braves 5-2 on Sunday for their 12th victory in 14 games.

Pete Alonso drove in two runs, and the first-place Mets finished with 19 strikeouts, including three in a row from closer Edwin Diaz to end it. They took four of five from Atlanta in their National League East showdown, extending their division lead to 6½ games over the defending World Series champions.

Pitching at home for the first time in 13 months, a dominant deGrom (1-0) retired his first 17 batters — 12 on strikeouts — before walking Ehire Adrianza with two outs in the sixth.

«Stepping out there was a little emotional,» deGrom said. «I took a second, tried to take it all in, and then tried to focus and try to take care of business.»

Dansby Swanson followed with a two-run homer on the 76th and final pitch from deGrom, making it 5-2.

«I just feel bad for whoever has to face him,» Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo said in his postgame interview on the field. «He's throwing 101, 102 [mph] out there, and he's locating everything. Hats off to him for getting healthy and getting back to us. He's primed and ready to go.»

The two-time Cy Young Award winner missed the final three months last season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, and he was then shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula. He finally returned Tuesday at the Washington Nationals, throwing five innings of one-run ball in a rare Mets loss lately.

«Throughout this whole time, the process has been very slow, and I was trying not to do too much, but I felt good the whole time,» deGrom said of